Pats activate WR Brown, LB Colvin placed on IR

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots activated
receiver Troy Brown from the physically unable to perform list on
Tuesday, reviving the career of one of the most versatile players
from their three Super Bowl victories.

Colvin, 30, left the 31-28 victory over the Eagles and did not
return. Although the announcement was that he had a foot injury, it
appeared trainers were working on his arm.

"It was announced as a foot? Then we'll leave it with that
announcement," coach Bill Belichick said Monday, according to the
transcript of the news conference released by the team. "Was that
what [we] announced? If that's what [we] announced, then we'll
stand by that announcement."

Chad Brown, 36, has been signed and released by New England
twice this season. He played one game for the Patriots this year
and made two tackles on special teams.

Kareem Brown, 23, a fourth-round draft pick from Miami, was
inactive for each of New England's first 11 games this year.

Troy Brown was placed on the PUP list Aug. 28. He resumed
practicing with the team on Nov. 12, giving the Patriots until 4
p.m. Tuesday to activate him, release him or put him on injured
reserve. He joins a receiving corps that has been led by offseason
acquisitions Randy Moss, who has 16 touchdowns, and Wes Welker, who
had a career-high 13 catches for 149 yards in Sunday night's
victory over Philadelphia.

Troy Brown is the longest-tenured member of the Patriots, with
557 career receptions that place him first in franchise history and
6,366 yards receiving that are second all-time. He is also the
team's leading punt returner with 246 returns for 2,570 yards, and
his three punt runbacks for touchdowns ties Irving Fryar for the
team record.

An eighth-round selection in the 1993 draft, Brown has spent his
entire career with the Patriots. He became a free agent in 2005 and
nearly signed with the New Orleans Saints before his 6-year-old son
talked him out of it; his nameplate never came down from his
locker.

Brown caught 101 passes for 1,199 yards and five touchdowns in
2001 to earn his only Pro Bowl selection. He had 97 receptions the
next year, but since then hasn't topped 43 catches as he became a
lesser option for Tom Brady.

But offense is only part of his resume.

He has returned kicks for most of his career, running three
punts back for touchdowns in the 2001 season and playoffs,
including a 55-yarder in the AFC title game against Pittsburgh en
route to New England's first NFL title.

Brown caught 18 passes in the playoffs that year, with six
catches for 89 yards in the Super Bowl, including a 23-yard
reception on the final drive to help set up Adam Vinatieri's
winning field goal.

Brown tied for the team lead with 17 catches in the playoffs on
the way to the '04 championship, with eight receptions in the Super
Bowl victory over Carolina -- three on the winning drive.

During the 2004 season, Belichick looked at his injury-stricken
secondary and plugged in Brown at defensive back. At age 33, he
responded with 14 tackles, three interceptions and three fumbles
recovered.

He went back in on defense in 2006, and the experience helped:
Brown forced a fumble after an interception in New England's
playoff game against San Diego.

"When you go out and play football, it doesn't matter if you
are on offense, defense, special teams or whatever, you just want
to be on the field being a part of the game," he said after
re-signing with the team in '05. "It would be a little tough for
me to sit back and watch from the sidelines."